General Atomics

NCA investigation leads to Border Force seizing £1m at Heathrow

As a result of a National Crime Agency (NCA) investigation, a man has been charged with money laundering after the seizure of £1 million in suitcases by the UK's Border Force at Heathrow Airport.



Image courtesy NCA

Mazen Al Shaar, 48, was stopped by Border Force officers on Saturday and the money was seized.

Al Shaar, from Hayes, Middlesex, was due to fly to Beirut. He appeared at appeared at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court on Monday. A bail application was refused and he was remanded in custody to appear at Isleworth Crown Court on the 17th April for a pre-trial plea hearing.

Andy Noyes, NCA branch commander, said: “So many of the serious and organised crime threats facing the UK are driven by offenders’ desire for money.

“This detection of £1 million was because of brilliant work by Border Force officers which has now sparked our investigation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: "This seizure highlights Border Force’s dedicated efforts to protect our borders and keep the public safe. Our officers are trained to spot suspicious behaviour and identify attempts to move illicit cash and other prohibited items across our borders.

"We continue to work closely with law enforcement partners, including the NCA to disrupt criminal networks."

Related

FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough International AIrshow 2026
FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough Aerospace Consortium says demand for its 2028 Farnborough Airshow stand is already close to capacity after a record presence at this year’s event.
Aerospace Defence

24 Aug 2026

Airbus expands Belfast A220 wing plant to support production ramp-up
Wing facility extension kicks off at Airbus Belfast
Airbus expands Belfast A220 wing plant to support production ramp-up
Airbus has started a major expansion of its Belfast A220 wing factory, adding production space and a third autoclave as it targets 13 aircraft per month by 2028.
Aerospace

24 Aug 2026

B&H Worldwide appoints Matt Silverberg as CEO
Matt Silverberg
B&H Worldwide appoints Matt Silverberg as CEO
With the appointment of Matt Silverberg as its new Chief Executive Officer, B&H Worldwide aims to accelerate the growth of its specialist logistics solutions for the global aerospace industry.
Aerospace Member News

24 Aug 2026

FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough International AIrshow 2026
FAC eyes larger Farnborough presence after record airshow demand
Farnborough Aerospace Consortium says demand for its 2028 Farnborough Airshow stand is already close to capacity after a record presence at this year’s event.
Aerospace Defence

24 Aug 2026

British Army hits the target with new radar system
Exercise Rhino Bizz
British Army hits the target with new radar system
Gunners from the British Army are using the wide open spaces of Canada to test a new radar system that can detect threats and guide artillery on to their targets.
Defence

24 Aug 2026

Royal Navy patrol ship conducts first in class flight of Malloy drone
Malloy T-150B drone on HMS Trent warship
Royal Navy patrol ship conducts first in class flight of Malloy drone
Building from Operation Highmast, the Royal Navy announced it has trailed the Malloy T-150B cargo drone from its patrol class vessels for the first time.
Defence

24 Aug 2026

Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Enpulsion space propulsion manufacturer buys UK company lift me off
Austrian ENPULSION moves to acquire UK space propulsion specialist Lift Me Off
Austrian spacecraft propulsion manufacturer ENPULSION has agreed to acquire British specialist Lift Me Off, bringing together electric and chemical propulsion capabilities in a deal that will require UK Government approval.
Member News Space

21 Aug 2026

Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
Lanarkshire’s AI Innovation Park
Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
A £202 million guarantee from the UK National Wealth Fund has attracted an investment of £300 million in Lanarkshire's AI Growth Zone, which with Dell Technologies establishing a base there too, is set to support over 3,400 skilled jobs.
UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
Young farmer works with a digital tablet in a wheat field, smart farm and quality control
UK satellite funding targets connectivity ‘not-spots’ for farmers and remote railways
British farmers and passengers travelling through remote parts of Scotland could gain better connectivity through a new £13 million package backing 16 UK satellite communications projects.
Space

18 Aug 2026

UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
UK defence jobs jump by 26,000 as MoD spending supports 274,000 workers
Ministry of Defence spending with UK industry now supports one in every 100 jobs, according to new figures.
Defence Security

21 Aug 2026

Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
Using laptop and mobile phone
Darktrace among first cybersecurity firms selected to integrate risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365
The integration will bring Darktrace's behavioural risk signals into Microsoft Agent 365, enabling customers to view organisation-specific insights alongside Microsoft signals in a single interface.
Security

20 Aug 2026

Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
Lanarkshire’s AI Innovation Park
Lanarkshire AI Growth Zone gains £300m investment as Dell establishes Scottish base
A £202 million guarantee from the UK National Wealth Fund has attracted an investment of £300 million in Lanarkshire's AI Growth Zone, which with Dell Technologies establishing a base there too, is set to support over 3,400 skilled jobs.